Such Beauty - Winter Craft Show in Baltimore

It was a warm 60-degree day in Baltimore and what better way to spend it than with a best friend, also an artist, at the juried American Craft Council show? Last year Peg and I didn't go the first day because of the ice, but it's a show we try to see every year for the fun and creative inspiration it provides.

What does this have to do with real estate and blogging? Let's go green! Most crafts, wood, ceramic, glass, weaving, metals etc., by nature are already green. This year, green seemed to be the theme of the show. Many booths displayed the Green Craft sign and I know this will make janeAnne very happy. Even Josh Simpson's spectacular blue glass was labeled "green." (you can see it in last year's post.)

This year we noticed there were a number of artists with book themes. Could it be the books caught our eye because of Real Estate the Rome Way and being with my publisher of Silloway Press? There was shelving made of books, we saw clocks made out of books, we saw wood made to look like books, and we saw Caitlin Phillips' pocketbooks (the kind we ladies carry) made out of hardback books.(Hmmm…when my book goes into hardback will we have a purse made of it?) The purse idea seemed to be a good one and this was a very popular booth. I liked the red Webster's dictionary. What would your favorite pocket BOOK be to carry on a daily basis?

Last year we saw only a few rows of the show and I think we enjoyed the experience more. This year we tried to cover it all and it was too much for one day. Being wonderfully busy, one day was all I could devote to the show this year. Even so, I had two settlements and a showing on one of my listings right after we left the Convention Center, and then dinner with good friends. Thank goodness for cell phones with email and caller ID!

Peg and I went without a plan, we said let's wander, no direction. We could have just done books, or just done fibers, or just done wood, or just done glass, or just done jewelry, etc. As it was, we got tired and neither of us bought this year - very unusual.

It reminded me of a buyer who wants to see everything, so the agent takes them to 30 houses in a weekend, instead of narrowing it down to the best four or five. When showing houses, you narrow your showings to... all the homes in one zip code, homes in a specific school district, all detached homes, all split levels, all homes with a pool, all homes with garages, all home with fenced yards. You can only do this if... you ask enough questions.

Were you prepared or did you just make a list of homes in price range and show all? Better choices can be made, a better time can be had, and you are more likely to make the right decision by comparing a smaller number but seeing only what you and or the buyer are interested or qualified for.

I look forward to next year's special day with a special friend, but next time we will go with a plan.

This was an exceptional show and we enjoyed talking with the artists. Let's "face" it, some artists like Dale Rogers are "Like A Dog With a Bone!"

Baltimore's Annual Craft Show - Unstoppable Art!

Friday was the day planned for our yearly craft show jaunt but Mom Nature had other ideas. Freezing rain, sleet, ice were forecast and the day started out like the forecasters predicted so we stayed home.

We could have gone. As often happens, the weather for the most part was a “non-event” in the Baltimore area. The media had reporters all over town and TV talking about how bad it would be, and they succeeded in spreading fear and doubt. Kind of reminds me of real estate and the media’s “doom and gloom” Gloom and Doom? Don't Believe It! The hardworking artists lost many potential buyers because the media reported such bad weather that did not materialize.

We hope they made up for Friday's smaller crowds on Saturday and Sunday – I can say for sure that by Saturday afternoon the aisles of the massive Baltimore Convention Center were packed. So where was my head? Shoulda, coulda, but didn’t take along some laminated copies of last year’s blog They Gotta Live Somewhere to this year's ACC Craft Show. Most of last year’s artists were back again this year, and it would have been nice to pass them out to the artists that I featured in 2007. Just take a look at goodies in this year's spectacular show. Maybe next year I will remember to bring copies along and give them to the artists who were kind enough to allow us to take the photos.

Like last year, going with a best friend makes it ever so special. Both of us are artists and both of us see beauty in things others may miss. We have a habit of saying “Oh look at that,” “You would like that,” and “Those are your colors!” Friends do that; they look out for the other more than for themselves.

We both said we were not going to buy anything this year. Yeah right!! It didn't take me long to need one of the show tote bags. Just a few booths down the first row I found Susan Sanders of Alexandria, VA, and her "Silkworms." These very unusual necklaces are crafted of multiple silk strands and have a hand-made magnetic closure. Put it on and click, you're ready to go. Of course I had to have the one-of-a-kind in tones of brown with gold/bronze threads.

A few booths on was Keith Lewis from Rifton, NY and his kinetic jewelry. My friend found a pair that combined carnelian stones with blue/green niobium and gold. One more package for the collection. http://keithlewisstudio.com/

While she was choosing earrings, I was next door with Harriet Moss' Handcrafted Wearables from McLean, VA and her yummy hand woven and knit sweaters and jackets. Of course there was one in brown with my name on it! http://harrietmoss.com/home.php Harriet was a delight to talk with, and even helped us decide which pair of earrings looked best on my friend. Artists are special people. A special bond forms when you own a handmade piece by a fellow artisan.

After that flurry we kept our credit cards stashed and just enjoyed the show…for a while. We had to stop for several minutes and chat with Thomas Turner from Kalamazoo, MI who had a "to die for" ring that my friend fell in love with. An exquisite brilliant green tourmaline stone set in 18k gold, in a ring just her size. The price was also exquisite…maybe next year. But in the meantime Mr. Turner is going to make me an eyeglass holder from clear rubber rope – a fascinating material, just the sort of thing I've been looking for. It was neat watching him design this new item. I will have the cord in a week or a month, depending on his show schedule. http://www.thomasturnerjewelry.com/

Josh Simpson from Massachusetts was there and we had to stop, of course, since my friend is a great fan of his glass work. Last year she went home with one of his "Inhabited" vases, but this year we just looked. We didn't realize that he uses all recycled glass thus making his art "green." Just look at these exquisite bowls, vases, and plates. http://www.joshsimpson.com/

Other artists caught our attention for their creative use of materials. We’ve all seen bowls and mugs, but one artist had turned stoneware into birds – there were puffin mugs, a loon teapot, and what can you say about a double swan serving piece but "Oh, look at this!"

Judy Stone from California had a booth filled with wonderful enamels but instead of the typical jewelry for the body, hers was jewelry for the home. I thought her enameled switch plates and outlet covers would make a great new-home gifts for a special client. www.jstoneenamels.com.

And just to prove that we could see the practical in the beautiful – and also the potential for a neat gift – I brought home these salad servers that flip from flat-folded to springy for one-handed serving. http://www.woodspoon.com/

It was just what we both needed – a day away from the usual work and a recharge for the creative core.

They Gotta Live Somewhere

You might call this taking time off – I call it a different way of working. Spending quality time with a best friend, both of us artists, wandering around and feasting our eyes on the finest in American handcrafts. Hundreds of the best of the best come to Baltimore each February for the American Craft Council (ACC) Winter Market. If you are an artist, you don't just buy a booth and show up here – this is one of the toughest juried competitions there is, and the quality of the few who are chosen proves it.

As a former ceramic artist, and my friend a former glass artist, we try never to miss this special show though we have gone for different reasons over the years. When I was a working artist it was for ideas, for booth displays, learning about the artists and of course networking -.seeing my art clients there and staying in front of the public. Now that I am in real estate, I find that when I am doing something that I really enjoy, there are others with the same interests.

My cute little camera came along and I was able to get shots of some special pieces and even a couple of the artisans. Whenever you are with an artist, always ask permission to take a photo before snapping away. It's no different than when you are showing a home – you ask permission of the owner or the agent. Almost all the artists were delighted to allow the photos, and every one made a point of thanking me for asking. One asked what I was using the photos for, and I of course said, the world needs to see what is going on at the Baltimore Convention Center. If I am going to take a day off, I want to share it. There were so many interesting things to see, I just kept snapping away – here are some examples in glass, metal, ceramic, fiber, and leather:

Michael Szabo from California has a unique way of using stainless steel, concrete and bronze to create these beauties.

Jennifer McCurdy from Massachusetts works with wheel thrown porcelain that is carved and incised.

Wendy Ellertson from Massachusetts creates fanciful creatures from fiber and leather.

We spent extra time at the Josh Simpson glass booth while my friend chose a treasure from this incredibly talented artist from Massachusetts. His display included a video that showed him working with hot glass and creating his intricate vases, bowls, and "inhabited planet" globes. After much debate my friend settled on this "inhabited vase," adding a fifth piece to her collection. She blew her wad but has an extraordinary piece of eye candy. We calculated that she actually saved money since this is the kind of treasure you buy on vacation, but she didn't have to pay for air fare, a cruise, hotel, or taxi!

There was a little travel cost for the day – a whopping $1.60 for the Light Rail that lets you off at the door to the Convention Center. I even met a fellow art collector and business owner, and we exchanged cards. Which reminded me again that there is no reason to stay in a real estate office to feel like you are working. Just remember that no matter what the hobby or interest, they gotta live somewhere.